Manufactures. Indiana is somewhat less fortunate than some of its sister States in respect to natural facilities of transportation and the possession of cities favorably situated to draw trade. It has no manufacturing centres of the first rank. Nevertheless, the highly developed state of railroad transportation gives Indiana an easy access to the markets of the country; and this, together with the superior resources of the State, is resulting in a rapid development of manufacturing. In 1900 there were 155,900 wage-earners engaged in manufactures, an increase of 41 per cent. for the decade ending with that year, as against an increase of 59.1 per cent. for the preceding decade. The percentage of the population engaged in manufacturing grew from 3.5 in 1880 to 5.0 in 1890 and 6.2 in 1900. Among the factors which are accountable for this recent growth, the most important is the development of the natural-gas resources of the State. From about 1886 the production of gas increased steadily until 1899, when it exceeded in amount that of any other State. The nature of this fuel confines its use to the region of production and to the immediately surrounding territories, where it may be secured by piping. Consequently, its benefits have been greatest to such towns as Elwood, Anderson, Muncie, and other places located in the natural-gas belt. The industries which have been attracted to this district are those which require an abundance of cheap fuel, such as iron and steel and glass manufactures. These two industries now take rank among the most important of the State, the increase of each during the decade 1890 to 1900 being respectively 307 and 392 per cent. The Indiana glass-factories now send shipments to Norway and New Zealand.
The manufacture of tin and terne plate has developed as a branch of the iron and steel industry. Another group of industries, and one that includes the three most important manufactures of the State, owes its development to the abundant local agricultural resources. Wheat and corn respectively give rise to the flour-milling and the distilling industries; and the feeding of stock, especially hogs, is largely responsible for the development of an important slaughtering industry. From the table appended it will be seen that there has been a slight decrease in the value of the flouring and grist mill products; but this is due to the decline of prices rather than in the amount of the output of the mills. The value of the production of liquors and of slaughtering and meat-packing products, on the contrary, increased respectivcly 134.9 and 57.1 per cent. Three-fourths of the liquors produced are distilled. The distilling interests are centred largely in Terre Haute. The slaughtering and meat-packing industry is the most extensive at Hammond (not far from Chicago) and at Indianapolis. During the decade 1890 to 1900 there was a decided decrease in wholesale slaughtering, not including meat-packing. This decrease has been much more than counterbalanced by the growth in that branch of the industry which includes meat-packing.
Another important group of manufactures has developed as a result of the extensive local timber resources. The forests contain valuable hard-wood timbers, which are extensively used in the manufacture of carriages and wagons, furniture, and agricultural implements. South Bend is noted for the manufacture of carriages and wagons. To the supplies of hard-wood also is partially due the prominence attained in car-construction. The wood-pulp industry is likewise dependent upon the forests for its raw materials. Although the resources of the forests are rapidly diminishing, the industries which depend upon forest products continue to thrive, the necessary supplies being obtained from the adjoining States to the north and the south. Among other industries the manufacture of foundry and machine-shop products is the most important. The gain during the decade amounted to 80.5 per cent. The printing and publishing output and the manufacture of pottery, terra-cotta and fire-clay products also showed decided gains during the decade. The census figures on the next page show the relative importance of the leading industries for the years indicated.
Transportation. Indiana's natural means of transportation consists of the Ohio River, forming the entire southern boundary of the State; its tributary, the Wabash, navigable at high water as far as Lafayette; and Lake Michigan on the north, with the single port of Michigan City. The National Road, running east and west through the central part of the State, played an important part during the pioneer period, as did also two canals—one, the Wabash and Erie, entering the State at the northeast corner and running diagonally across it to Evansville in the southwest corner; the other, the White Water Canal, extending from Lawrenceburg in the southeast corner of the State, north to Hagerstown. But these have been superseded by railroads, and for a number of years have been abandoned. Railroads have come to be the principal means of communication, the State being most advantageously placed in this respect. All lines from the east centring in Chicago pass through the State, as do most of the lines connecting the great commercial centres of the East with those of the West, besides some important northern and southern lines. Of a total mileage of 6459, less than 1000 miles of road have terminals within the State. There are 19 miles of railroad per 100 square miles of territory, and 24.91 miles for every 10,000 inhabitants. Recently there has been a remarkable development of cross-country electric car lines, and apparently these will become common in districts where local passenger traffic is great, or where railroad accommodations are wanting. Indiana has, in addition to one port of entry, two ports of delivery, Evansville and Indianapolis.
Banks. In 1902 there were 145 national banks in the State. Their capital stock was $16,774,000; cash, etc., $8,998,000; loans, $62,453,000; and deposits, $76,079,000. There were 110 State banks with a capital of $4,914,000; cash, $1,618,000; loans, $17,991,000; and deposits, $23,316,000. There were 68 private banks with a capital of $1,639,000; cash, $659,000; loans (not including loans on real estate and other collateral security), $5,472,000; and deposits. $9,692,000. In the savings banks of the State there were $6,561,000 deposits, the average deposit being $267.93.
Government. Indiana has its second Constitution, the present one having been ratified by a vote of the people in 1851. An amendment may be proposed by either House, and after being approved by a majority of the members elected to each House of two consecutively chosen assemblies
